President Obama issued an executive order yesterday, which was released today, extending sanctions against Iran to include the Iranian Central Bank, a move welcomed by the Jewish Council for Public Affairs for its far reaching impact in isolating the Iranian regime. The sanctions were originally passed by Congress as part of the Department of Defense Reauthorization.

“We thank President Obama and Congress for their commitment to using powerful economic tools in the effort to prevent Iran from acquiring nuclear weapons. Iran has continually threatened the United States and our allies in the region – especially Israel,” said JCPA president Rabbi Steve Gutow. “The escalating intensity of the U.S. sanctions regime, which now includes all who do business with Iran’s Central Bank, is a signal of our seriousness in stopping their dangerous nuclear weapons program.”

“With these sanctions, the US has drawn a clear line. You cannot continue to benefit from the prosperity and security of access to our markets and friendships while contributing to Iran’s ability to undermine our fundamental security interests,” said JCPA chair Dr. Conrad Giles. “This Congressional legislation and the White House’s prompt implementation of it should send a message to Iran and the rest of the international community that when the President says an Iranian nuclear weapon is ‘unacceptable,’ he means it.”

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JCPA, the public affairs arm of the organized Jewish community, serves as the national coordinating and advisory body for the 14 national and 125 local agencies comprising the field of Jewish community relations.